Official history of Guilford, Vermont, 1678-1961. With genealogies and biographical sketches, Part 12

Author: National Grange. Vermont State Grange. Broad Brook Grange No. 151, Guilford
Publication date: 1961
Publisher: [Guilford] Published by the town of Guilford
Number of Pages: 612


USA > Vermont > Windham County > Guilford > Official history of Guilford, Vermont, 1678-1961. With genealogies and biographical sketches > Part 12


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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Official History of Guilford


Isaac Brown Jr., and Jeremiah Packer and Joseph Bullock and Jabez Franklin and Samuel Allen.


10. mad choice of survairs of highways, viz .- Mr. Matthew Pullen, Ed- ward Carpenter. Wm. White, Joshua Lynds, Abel Joy, Jonas Nich- los, Simeon Ferrel, Amasa Smead, Josiah Biglow, David Stowell, Nathan Avery, Samuel Stafford, Edward Barney, David Culver, Caleb Allice, Nathan Walsworth, David Smalley, Wm. R. Eddy, Branders of horses, Benjamin Bucklin, Haywards, Job Salsbury, John Healy, Ephream Whitney, Joseph Witherhead, Andrew Wilk- ings, Ephream Edwards, Augustine Belden, John Cunable.


Pound Keepers, Elihu Field; Fence Viewers, Mr. Paul Chase, Thomas Wells, John Noyes, and then voted that any school district in the town of Guilford that could agree for any altration might and that the town would ratefy the same, and likewise voted that the District No. 7 should be divided according to the vote of said district, then desolved the meeting.


Attest, William Bigelow, Town Clerk.


At the annuel meeting of the inhabitance of the town of Guilford for the year of 1788, the inhabitance being meet according to the War- rant for that purpose at the house of the Widow Lucretia Houghton.


Firstly, mad choice of Wm. Smalley, Esqr. Clerk protempry &


Secondly mad choice of William Bigelow, Esq., town clerk for the year insuing.


3. mad choice of William Bigelow & Wm. Smalley, Esqrs. and Ben- jamin Bucklin Selectmen for the year insuing.


4. made choice of Joseph Bullock Constable and Colector of town taxes.


5. made choice of Wm. Smalley town treasurer.


6. made choice of Benjamin Ballow Epheriam Nichols Stephen Gould John Noyes Listers for the year insuing.


7. Voted that David Stowell be sealer of lether, and likewise that Thomas Cutler Wm. Marsh, Edward Barney Grand jurymen and Elihu Field Poundkeeper. Tithingmen Capt. Amasa Smead, Caleb Carpenter, John Noyes, Philip Maxwill, David Gains, then Voted that Wm. Smalley and Deana Hide and Zephaniah Shepard- son, Jr. John B. Carpenter Haywards, and then


Voted that Joseph Bullock, Benjamin Carpenter, Stephen Chase, Paul Chase, Daniel Boyden, Joseph Edwards, James Cutler, Jona- than Aldrich Jr. Job Whitney, Solomon Barrows, John Hammon, Eseack Thair, John Noyes, Daniel Smith, Augustus Belden, Nathan Stark, David Gains, survaires of highways, and David Stowell sealer of waits and measures, and then desolved the meeting.


Attest Wm. Big


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Official History of Guilford


At a town meeting legely warned in and for the town of Guilford held on ye 4 day of December, A.D. 1788,


Firstly, made choice of Col. Benjamin Carpenter, Moderator, to gov- ern sd meeting;


2ly; Voted that Joseph Bullock should collect the remainder of a tax which was taken from Simeon Edwards, and likewise rec'd twelve shillings out of said tax for a compensation.


3ly; Voted that a tax of one penny on the grand list should be assessed on the said town.


The above is a true record, Attest Wm. Bigelow, Town Clerk.


At the anuel meeting holden at Guilford March, 1789 it was voted that the division of the district No. 7 and No. 8, according to their own agreement shud stand and hereafter be none by the name of School District No. 10; and then voted that Decon Thomas Cutler, Isaac Fer- rel & Theophilus Wardle shud come of from School District No. 3 and shuld goo to District No. 4.


Attest Wm. Bigelow, Town Clerk.


March ye 8th, 1790.


The inhabitance of Guilford being meet at the house of the Widow Lucretia Houghtons, inholder in said town of Guilford by a legall warrant for their annurl town meeting. At this meeting officers were "made choice of" and it was voted that Elihu Root, Nathan Avery, John B. Carpenter serve as persons for diging graves for the dead for the year ensuing;


Voted to chus a committee to settle with the inhabitants of the school land; Chose John Noyes, Peter Briggs, William Bigelow, Lovell Bul- lock, Ephraim Nichols to make report;


Attest, Wm. Bigelow, Town Clerk.


At the annual Town Meeting legally warned in the Town of Guil- ford on the 12th day of March, A.D. 1792:


Voted that Capt. John Barney, Capt. Asa Rice, Daniel Wilkins, Thomas Cutler should be the Committee to renew the old obliga- tions taken by them for the school lands by the first of May next, & likewise voted that the interest on said notes should be considered as principal at the time of renewal, & likewise voted that the Select- men and Trustees of School Districts in said town should call for the interest on said notes in one year from next May for the use of said schools, then


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Voted that Lieut. John Noyes should assist Dr. Dana Hide in taking advice in respect of the Hale girl being sick at said Hides.


Guilford, April ye 9th, 1793.


At a legal meeting this day held at Guilford, aforesaid,


1 ly; Chose William Bigelow, Esqr. Moderator, & John Noyes Clerk, protem.


2 ly; Voted to dismiss the second article in the warrant;


3 ly; Voted that Deacon Thomas Cutler, Capt. Asa Rice, Capt. John Barney & Capt. Daniel Wilkins, the former committee of the school lands in Guilford be directed to authenticate the deeds they have given of said lands in behalf of said town.


4 ly; Voted not to allow Capt. David Stowells demand against the town for moneys said to be expended in behalf of said town.


5 ly; Voted this meeting dissolved. Attest, John Noyes, Clerk protem.


The above is a true record, Attest, Wm. Bigelow, Town Clerk.


At a legal meeting held at Guilford on the 24th day of June A.D. 1793, by the inhabitants of said town, to act on the following articles,


1 ly; Made choice of Peter Briggs, Esq., Moderator to govern said meeting.


2 ly; Voted that the old committee should call on Mr. Jasper Partridge to acknowledge a deed given by said Partridge to the aforesaid committee, of the school lands in said town.


3 ly; Voted that the said committee should engage an attorney to com- mence suits or suits against all those persons that are on the school lands in said town who refuse to settle with said committee. 4 ly; Voted that said committee should draw money out of the treas- urer of said town sufficient to carry on said suits.


5 ly; Voted that the said committee should collect the interest of the notes given for the school lands and pay the same in to the treasurer and selectmen by the first of November annually.


6 ly; Voted that said committee should deliver notes given for the school lands to the town clerk as fast as they get them renewed.


7 ly; Voted that three dollars should be endorsed on Hezekiah Stow- ells notes, then voted this meeting dissolved.


The above is a true record. Attest, Wm. Bigelow, Town Clerk.


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Official History of Guilford


Guilford, March ye 20 th, 1794.


Then met according to warning and 18ly. Voted that the School District No. 5 be divided in a line north and south through the cen- ter, as they have agreed and that the east part be known by the name of No. 11.


Voted to rise a tax of two pence on the pound on the list of 1793 and pay into the town treasurer for the purpose of procuring ammuni- tion, weights and measurers and paying the debts of the town.


The above and within is a true record, Attest,


Wm. Bigelow, Town Clerk.


September Meeting, 1794.


At a Freemen's Meeting legelly warned and holden at Guilford on the second day of September, A.D. 1794, Samuel Shepardson, first Con- stable, Moderator, the votes for a Representative being called for & after waiting as the law directs the Constable and Town Clerk pro- ceeded to count the votes, & after counting said votes the Constable declared William Bigelow, Esq., as legely chosen to attend the General Assembly the year ensueing.


Votes for Lieut. Governor are as follows ;- For Jonathan Hunt, Esq., 61, for treasurer, 31.


The votes being called for for Governor, the votes being counted stand as follows ;- Isaac Tichenor, Esq., 58. Thomas Chittenden, Esq., 7. Nathaniel Niles, 1. Jonathan Hunt, Esq., 1. Elihu Field, Esq., 1. Votes for Counselors stand as follows ;- Samuel Stafford, 23. Elijah Dewey, 22. Samuel Williams, 19. Enoch Woodbridge, 20. Ebenezer Marvin, 21. Cornelius Lynd, 23. Daniel Buck, 15. Lot Hall, 23. Jonathan Hunt, 26. Benjamin Henry, 27. Luke Knowlton, 3. John Bridgman, 26. William Bigelow, 27. Peter Briggs, 10. Lovell Bul- lock, 8. Gardiner Chandler, 9. Josiah Arms, 4. Elijah Pain, 6. Rich- ard Whitney, 6. John Noyes, 1. The above is a true record, Attest,


Wm. Bigelow, Town Clerk.


December Meeting 1794.


At a Freemen's Meeting legely warned and holden at Guilford on the last Tuesday of December, A.D. 1794, for the purpose of choosing a Representative to Congress, Samuel Shepardson, first Constable, be- ing Moderator of said Meeting, the meeting being opened by said Constable and the votes called for and taken and are as follows ;-


Royall Tyler, Esq., 11. Jonathan Hunt, Esq., 7. Benjamin Henry, Esq., 5. John Bridgman, Esq., 1. Wm. Bigelow, 1. Lot Hall, Esq. 1.


The above is a true record. Attest, Wm. Bigelow, Town Clerk.


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Official History of Guilford


At a Freemen's Meeting legely warned and holden at Guilford on the 10 day of February, A.D. 1795, for the purpose of choosing a Rep- resentative to Congress, Samuel Shepardson, first constable, opened the meeting and the votes called for and being taken are as follows; Daniel Buck, Esq., 14. Jonathan Hunt, Esq., 1.


The above is a true record, Attest, Wm. Bigelow, Town Clerk.


At a meeting held in Guilford on March 9th, 1795 it was "voted that the Selectmen purchase of Mr. Daniel Lyndes a Funeral Paul at the cost of the town, and that it be deposited with the Rev. Elijah Wollage for the use of any and all the inhabitants of said town and that any inhabitant may have it on his giving his receipt to return it as soon as he has done using it".


May ye 29th, 1795. The inhabitants of said Guilford being meet. First called on Committee choose in April to make their report, which is as follows ;- To the inhabitants of the town of Guilford in town meeting assembled, by adjournment ye 29th day of May A. D. 1795, the committee who were appointed to collect and render a statement of the sums, dues and debts, and the sums necessary to be raised for the tax, beg leave to report that they have attended to the duties of their appointment and find that the demands against the town audited and unliquidated so far as they have come to their knowledge: Ex- penses for military stores, weights and measures, for the maintenance of the poor and the civil list of the town for the current year amount to the sum of £ 102:6:10, and that the balance due from Capt Shepard- son, collector of the tax raised March 10th A.D. 1794, which is the only town tax not settled amounts to £ 20:0:0 2/4 which with the sum of £ 10: in the hands of Capt. Edward Houghton, for the purpose of pur- chasing weights and measures and the sum of £ 11:9:8 to be accounted for by Deacon Thomas Cutler Town Agent, amounts to the sum of £ 41:9:8; 2/4 to be credited to the town, which being deducted from the sum of £ 102:6:10 leaves a balance against the town of £ 60:17:1 2/4 which sum is now necessary to be raised by the town tax, and that two pence upon the pound upon the grand list will raise the sum of £ 62:17:8, which they recommend to be raised.


The vote being called to see whether they would except of the above report and raise two pence on the list of the present year the vote passed in the affirmative, and then voted to dissolve the meeting.


Attest, Wm. Bigelow, Town Clerk.


At the town meeting on March 7, 1796 it was "Then voted that all the mail persons under twentyone years old and the feamails under


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Official History of Guilford


eighteen and above four years old of both seckes shall be considered the schoolers in each school district in said town.


"Then voted that the committee in each district shall anually number and return to the selectmen and trustees of said districts the ages and number of schoolers taken by them in each district the first day of January."


Chose Abiather Joy and John Younglove a committee to settle with the selectmen for leasing out the propagation and glebe land.


At a special meeting Dec. 12, 1796 a tax was voted of one cent and a half on the pound on the poles and ratibles of the inhabitants of said Guilford.


On April 11, 1798 the town voted to raise one cent on the pound of the grand list of the town for the purpose of building a town pound, and for the purpose of supporting the poor, and other necessary charges of said town.


The first time that the tax was raised on the dollar of the grand list was in 1800. Present day tax payers would enjoy receiving a bill based on the rate that year which was two mills on the dollar of the grand list of 1799. One hundred fifty seven years later, before reap- praisal, the rate voted was $12.92.


And now with the year 1800 we end this first section of the Guil- ford History. Credit is due the late John E. Gale, not only for this part but also for much of the material used in the next section.


-


SECTION II


It makes me feel very humble to think of continuing the History of Guilford on which the late John E. Gale worked so long and with such meticulous care and devotion. However, I can not claim to be the author of the following pages, I have only collected what others have written and by arranging in chronological order, have tried to weave them into a connected narrative. I hope this will not seem to be in the sense of a housewife collecting left-overs but as a connoisseur display- ing the works of others for the profit and pleasure of those who view them.


Personally I want to thank the committee, Lawrence Franklin, William Fitch, Hugh Evans, Robert Gaines and Ralph Bullock and their families for their work, also the typists Eleanor Bullock, Shirley Gaines, Pauline Franklin, Ruby Thurber and Evelyn Streeter. Much credit is due the Evans family for bringing the records up to date, my thanks to them for a thankless task! I am grateful to each contributor especially Mrs. Charles Evans whose article on Guilford Town Clerks formed the background for this part of the book. Last but not least I thank my husband, Miner Thompson, whose help and encouragement made my part in this work possible.


HARRIET D. THOMPSON


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CHAPTER I


Early Records


ORIGINAL GRANTEES OF THE TOWN OF GUILFORD


Atkinson, Theodore-Portsmouth,


N. H. (Brother-in-law of Gov. Wentworth)


Arms, John-Deerfield


Allen, John Jr .- Hartford, Ct.


Boyden, John-Deerfield


Boyd, James


Barnard, Salah-Deerfield


Barnard, Samuel-Deerfield


Barnard, Joseph-Deerfield Barnard, Eleazer


Blanchard, Joseph (Member of N. H. Council; Proprietor in 12 Vt. towns)


Billings, John-Sunderland


Bruce, George


Coats, Charles-Northampton


Clesson, Matthew-Deerfield Crouch, Richard


Chandler, John


Chandler, John Jr.


Chandler, Gardner


Chadwick, John-Tyringham, Mass.


Chadwick, John Jr .- Tyringham, Mass.


Curtis, John-Hardwick, Mass.


Curtis, John Jr .- Hardwick, Mass. Curtis, Ebenezar-Hardwick, Mass. Carpenter, Ira (Ezra) Carpenter, Samuel Dickinson, Obadiah-Hatfield Dwight, Seth-Northampton Eager, Benjamin -


Field, David-Deerfield Field, Samuel-Deerfield


Flagg, Asa


Green, Peter


Green, Nathaniel


Green, Benjamin-Bernardston


Hawks, Eleazer-Deerfield


Higgins, Elisha


Howe, Caleb-Hinsdale (Vernon) Jarvis, Leonard-Boston . Johnson, William


Morris, William


Morris, James


Mower, Samuel-Warwick (Moore) Martin, Jno. Jr.


Paine, Timothy


Pollard, Benjamin


Partridge, Samuel (Col.)-Hatfield Rawson, Wm. J.


Scott, Aaron-Deerfield


Warner, Daniel-Hardwick (Member N. H. Council)


Warren, Thomas


>Wells, David-Greenfield Wheeler, Philip


Wibart, Richard-Portsmouth (Member N. H. Council)


Wentworth, Samuel-Boston Wentworth, John-Portsmouth (Brother of Gov.) Willard, Nahum Williams, Eleazer Williams, Capt. Elijah-Deerfield Williams, Samuel-Warwick


115


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Official History of Guilford


Gallup's Canada: An early name for Guilford, again came up in 1771. The following is the report of one solution to the puzzling ques- tion what to do when state lines move and grant is superimposed on previous grant.


New Eng. Hist. & Gen. Register, Vol. 13 (1859) page 133. "List of Capt. Samuel Gallup's Company (Communicated by Henry W. Taft of Lenox).


"There came recently into my hands the Proprietor's Record of 'Bullock's Grant', now mostly embraced within the limits of the town of Savoy in Berkshire Co., Mass. about 16 miles N. E. of Pittsfield. This territory appears to have been granted in June, 1771 by the Leg- islature to the heirs and grantees of Capt. Samuel Gallup and others, who served in the expedition against Canada in 1690, and in compen- sation for a former grant which was 'lost by running the line of the state of New Hampshire.' The names of Capt. Sam'l Gallup's company are given in this record. I think they were all from the Old Colony and engaged in the land expedition by way of Albany, and not under the command of Sir William Phipps." (Note Phipps led the naval ex- pedition by sea and river to Quebec, while the overland expedition went via Lake Champlain region toward Montreal.)


GALLUP'S COMPANY 1690


Capt. Samuel Gallup


Lieut. Preserved Abell


Ens. Solomon Smith


Thos. Hart


Mr. Dan'l Carpenter, Attleboro, Mass.


Richard Bullock-Guilford de- scendants


Samuel Sabin


Alexander Maxcy


Daniel Philips


Joseph Glover


Joseph Jones


Benj. Freeman


Samuel Luther (anc. of Paul Chase)


James Baggley


Noah Sabin


Sam'l Thorne


Wm. Robinson


Geo. Studman-Stedman


John Ormsbee (anc. of Philip Franklin)


Adam Tisdale


Sam'l Johnson


Ichabod Peck


Thos. Crossman


Nicholas Hall


John Haskins (Hopkins)


Dan'l Shepardson (3 sons in Guil- ford)


Jacob Carpenter William Ellis John Smith


John Eddy


Nicholas Peck


Dan'l Fisher


John Baggley Philip Squire Elisha Tupper Wm. Ripley


John Thurber (David of Guil- ford?)


Robert Calley-Colley


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Official History of Guilford


Richard Tuells


John Twogood, Jr.


Thos. Tuells


John Pierce


Samuel Butterworth


Benj. Marrion


Wm. Hoch (or Hatch)


Wm. Hillyeard


Benj. Wilson (des. in Putney, Vt.) Francis Willson


Sam'l Halloway


Philip Allen


Josiah Wheeler


Thos. Richardson


Wm. Sutton


Sam'l Warkman-Workman


John Burrows


Sam'l Slater


Nath. Whiting


Philip Tillinghast


John Twogood


Robt. Kilton


In 1771 a census of Cumberland County was made under the au- thority of the New York government. The summary of the Guilford data is as follows ;-


CENSUS OF JANUARY 16, 1771


White males under 16 124


White males above 16 and under 60


92


White males 60 and upward 5


White females under 16


116


White females above 16 (polite!)


94


Black males


3


Black females


2


Total


436


Heads of families


75


Within the following year the population increased 150, or over 33 per cent, the schedule being as follows;


INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN OF GUILFORD; CENSUS OF 1772


Allen, John Jr., single


Allen, Josiah


wife and 6 children


Allen, Sam'l wife and 3 children


Ayers, David


wife and 9 children


Ayers, David Jr., single


Barnard, Ebenezer, single


Barnard, Salah


wife and 5 children


Barnard, Samuel Jr., single Barney, Edward


wife and 1 child wife and 4 children


Barney, John


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Official History of Guilford


Bennett, Edward


wife and 3 children


Bennit, Sam'l


wife and 1 child


Biglo, Joel


wife and 2 children


Biglo, Jotham


wife and 9 children


Biglo, William


wife and 3 children


Bixby, Manassah


wife and 2 children


Bixby, Moses


no wife and 6 children


Boyd, James, single


Boyden, Daniel


wife and 7 children


Bullock, Shubeld


wife and 3 children


Bullock, William


wife and 2 children


Camps, John


wife and 8 children


Carpenter, Benj.


wife and 5 children


Carpenter, Nath'l


wife and 8 children


Chaddick, John, single


Chaddick, John Jr.


Chase, Paul


wife and 2 children


Clesson, Matthew, single


Cleveland, Aquila


wife and 4 children


Coats, Charles, single


Cole, Caleb


wife and 3 children


Crouch, Richard, single


Curtis, Ebenezer


wife and 7 children


Curtis, John


wife and 6 children


Curtis, John Jr., single


Cutler, James


Cutler, Joel


Cutler, Silas


wife and 5 children no wife and 7 children wife and 11 children


Dennis, James Dickinson, Obadiah, single


wife and 3 children


Dwight, Seth, single


Eager, Benjamin, single


Farnsworth, Zaccheus


Field, David


Field, Samuel, single


Gaits, John Goodenough, David


wife and 3 children wife and 1 child


Goodenough, Ebenezer


wife and 5 children wife and 6 children


Goodenough, Jotham


wife and 7 children wife and 9 children


BRICK SCHOOL HOUSE-BUILT IN 1800


THE GUILFORD CANNON-1784


---


GREEN RIVER COVERED BRIDGE-BUILT IN 1873


GUILFORD CENTRAL SCHOOL-1957


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Official History of Guilford


Goodenough, Levi Green, Benjamin Green, Nath'l, single Green, Peter Grow, Daniel


wife and 4 children wife and 5 children


wife and 3 children wife and 7 children


Hawks, Eleazer, single Hicks, Henry Hunt, Jonathan, single


wife and 1 child


Jackson, Joseph Joy, David


wife and 5 children wife and 6 children


King, James


wife and 5 children


Larkin, William


Lynde, Daniel


wife and 6 children wife and 4 children


Melody, Samuel also spelled Mellendy Morris, James, single Morris, William, single


wife and 9 children


Nichols, Sam'l Nichols, William Nurs, Joshua


wife and 5 children


wife and 8 children


wife and 2 children


Paine, Timothy


wife and 2 children


Partridge, Jasper


wife and 1 child


Partridge, Samuel, single


Penney, Jona, single


Preston, Benj.


wife and 4 children


Price, George, single


Ramsdall, William


wife and 2 children


Rice, Abijah


wife and 4 children


Rice, Asa


wife and 7 children


Rice, Francis


wife and 6 children


Rice, Gershom


wife and 7 children


Rice, Micha


wife and 7 children wife and 4 children


Rice, Peter


Robert, Giles


wife and 3 children


Rogers, Abijah


wife and 3 children


Russell, Barnabas


wife and 2 children


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Official History of Guilford


Scott, Aaron, single


Scott, Josiah


wife and 2 children wife and 11 children


Shepardson, John


wife and 4 children


Smith, Benoni


wife and 7 children


Smith, Murdock Zulloden


Smith, Nath'l


wife and 9 children wife and 5 children


Stowell, David


wife and 4 children


Stowell, Enoch


wife and 5 children


Stowell, Hezekiah


wife and 11 children


Tifft, John, single Torrey, Abel wife and 2 children


Weeks, David


wife and 3 children


Wells, David, single


Whitaker, Daniel


wife and 6 children


Whitaker, Seth


wife and 5 children


White, William


wife and 5 children


Whitney, Amos


wife and 5 children


Whitney, Ephraim


wife and 3 children


Willard, Nath'l, single


Williams, Elijah, single


Williams, Samuel


wife and 4 children


Wilson, Oliver, single


Woods, Jedediah


wife and 9 children


Woods, Jedediah (Jr .? )


wife and 7 children


Woolsey, Thos., single


Total 586


This is manifestly incomplete as other families are known to have been in Guilford at this time.


Proprietors Meetings: The Proprietors were mostly from Massa- chusetts, but it would seem that some might have come from Con- necticut, as it is believed that Guilford was named from Guilford, Conn., which was named from Guilford, England.


Like most towns Guilford has a few place names. Broad Brook, called by the Indians, Wan-as-qua-tok or Little River, is often men- tioned in the old deeds. Greenland Bend road follows the windings and turnings of Broad Brook. The sun seldom shines there, hence the name "Greenland." An early bridge across Broad Brook inadvertently became known as "Brandy" bridge. The story goes that a farmer, with his horse and express wagon, was returning home one night when his


Shepardson, Zephaniah


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Official History of Guilford


brandy barrel fell off the load and bathed the bridge with brandy. Thus christened, this bridge, although several times replaced, has al- ways retained the name of "Brandy" bridge.


Hinesburg was named from William Hines, who came to Guilford from Rehoboth, Mass. His son Thomas was nine years old at that time. Thomas grew to be six feet one inch tall and weighed over 200 pounds. It was said that he could lift nearly four times his own weight, but Nathan Cutler, six feet six inches tall, picked him up and "car- ried him off the grounds."


The earliest recorded proceedings of the proprietors of the town of Guilford, so far as known, are as follows ;-


Winchester, N.H., July 14, 1761


At a legal meeting of the Proprietors of the township of Guilford, in ye Province of New Hampshire, being duly warned and met agree- able to an act made empowering to call meetings, on the 14th July, 1761, ye proprietors proceeded & made choice of Capt. Samuel Hunt for moderator of the meeting.


2. Voted and made choice of David Field, proprietors clerk.


3d. Voted to accept of Capt. Nath'l Dwight's plan of ye fifty acre lots laid out by him.


4. Voted to draw ye lots.


5. Voted to adjourn ye meeting to ye first tuesday in august to meet at Northfield, (Mass.) at ye house of Capt. Samuel Hunts, at 10 of ye clock in sd day, test,


Samuel Hunt moderator.


August ye 4th, 1761.


Then ye proprietors of Guilford met at ye time and place to which ye meeting was adjourned.


1 ly, Voted to raise a tax of 1 pound on each right to pay the cost of laying out ye lots on said township & clearing and making what roads shall be thought proper, & other contingencies.


2 ly, Voted & chose Elijah Williams, Esq., & Messrs Eli Barnard & David Field assessors.




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